Winter here is the dry season. The rains officially end on October 15, the humidity lifts, and the days settle into warm afternoons and cooler evenings. It's the season most of our guests ask about, so here's what the numbers say and how we spend it in North Beach.
What the weather is actually like
Expect highs in the mid to upper 70s and lows in the low 60s from January through February. The averages below come from Miami's long-term weather records. Miami Beach sits a few miles east across the bay and runs close to them, though it gets a little less rain over a year (about 57 inches, against roughly 62 for Miami).
| Month | Average high | Average low | Rainfall |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 76°F | 61°F | 1.8 in |
| February | 78°F | 63°F | 2.2 in |
| March | 81°F | 66°F | 2.5 in |
For comparison, June averages 11 inches of rain. Winter is the quiet part of the calendar.
Cold fronts, and the one sweater worth packing
A few nights each winter turn properly cool. Cold fronts move through from the north and bring most of the season's small amount of rain, followed by drier, cooler air. Lows reach 50°F or below about three times a year, and only rarely drop to 40°F. Freezing weather is almost unheard of on Miami Beach.
So pack for summer and add one real layer: a light sweater or jacket for dinner after a front has passed. Highs fail to reach 70°F on only about 12 days a year, which means the cool spells are short. Most mornings after a front are bright and clear.
How we spend a winter day at the house
We start in the courtyard. The Courtyard Pool is open from sunrise to sunset, and in winter that's a shorter day than in July, so the morning hours count for more. The courtyard is where the day really begins. Breakfast is laid out at The Breakfast Table: warm croissants, fruit on woven tiers, cold-pressed juices on ice and yogurt.
The Atlantic is a short walk from our gate, and we keep sunbeds and umbrellas waiting there for you. Winter light is lower and softer than in summer, and a January afternoon on the sand at 76°F is the reason many people come here this time of year.
On the cooler evenings, The Gym & Sauna earns its place. It's a quiet room with warm walls and linen curtains, and after a beach day an hour in the infrared sauna does what a sweater can't. Someone at The Desk That Never Sleeps is awake whenever you are, if you'd like a dinner suggestion or a taxi at an odd hour.
We have 29 rooms in a building from 1948. The house is for guests 12 and over, which keeps the courtyard calm through the holiday weeks when the rest of the island fills up. This is the slower Miami.
What's on through the season
Winter is also when the beach has the most going on, and we've written up the dates that matter most to people staying with us:
- Early December: Art Basel Miami Beach. Our page on where to stay for it covers the fair from the quiet north end.
- December: the holiday calendar in North Beach. We keep a list of the events within reach of our gate.
- New Year's Eve: Lettuce plays the Miami Beach Bandshell, and our New Year's page covers the night on foot.
- February: Valentine's Day weekend, with Ibeyi at the Bandshell.
If you're coming for one of these, book early. Winter is our busiest stretch, and with 29 rooms, the dates around the holidays go first.
Who winter suits
Winter suits you if you want warm days without the summer humidity and afternoon storms. It suits you less if you're after the warmest possible evenings or the lowest rates of the year. You'll need a layer a few nights a season, and the holiday weeks are the most in demand. If your dates are flexible, March keeps the dry weather and pushes the average high to 81°F.